James F. Wilson to William H. Seward, October 8, 1866

Mr. Wilson to Mr. Seward

Sir: I beg to inform the department that I arrived in this city on the 29th day of September last, after a long and disagreeable voyage from Philadelphia.

On our arrival off La Guayra we were notified of our being under sanitary surveillance. We were thus quarantined for three days, at the expiration of which time an order came from the government permitting the passengers to land.

On the 3d instant I addressed a note to Señor Rafael Seijas, the minister of foreign relations, stating my arrival, and informing him that I was the bearer of a sealed letter from the President of the United States to the President of Venezuela, (an open official copy of which I forwarded to him at the same time,) and asking him to designate a convenient time and place when I could, in an audience with the supreme chief of the United States of Venezuela, place the same in his hands. (A copy of this note I enclose, marked “enclosure No. 1.”)

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I have the honor to be, with sentiments of great respect, your obedient servant,